Tag Archives: Cold War

The Artificers (1974)

Posted on by

The Artificers is a recruitment film produced for the Royal Navy by the Central Office of Information. Features footage of artificer apprentices at HMS Fisgard and outward bound training.

Followed by footage of marine engineering artificer training at HMS Caledonia and aboard HMS Amazon (a newly built Type 21 frigate at this time).

Followed by footage of air engineering training at HMS Daedalus with decriptions of 3 types of air artificer and extensive footage of the Lee-on-Solent Search and Rescue flight.

Followed by footage of electrical and weapons engineering training at HMS Collingwood, some tricky problem solving aboard a nuclear submarine, followed by firing the ASW mortar on HMS Argonaut (Leander-class frigate).

Operation Hurricane (1953)

Posted on by

Operation Hurricane was the test of Britain’s first atomic bomb on 3 October 1952. The test took place at the Montebello Islands of Western Australia. This documentary film from 1953 was produced for the Central Office of Information for the Ministry of Supply.

Med Patrol (1971)

Posted on by

‘Med Patrol’ features aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R09), Leander class frigate HMS Galatea (F81), combat stores ship RFA Lyness (A339) and fast fleet tanker RFA Olna (A123).

Photo tour of HMS Edinburgh at decommissioning, May 2013

Posted on by

Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97) berthed alongside museum ship HMS Belfast in the Pool of London, May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Bulkhead hatch on No. 1 deck on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Machinery control room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. The machinery control room contains the controls for the propulsion and power, gearing, water plants and air conditioning systems. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Machinery control room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Machinery control room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Junior Rates dining room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Communication Operator’s Console in HQ1 on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close-up view of a panel on the Communication Operators Console in HQ1 on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

HQ1 (communications centre and damage control HQ) on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view looking forward along port side of No. 2 deck on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Heads on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Wardroom on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The formal dining table in the Wardroom on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Forward engine room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Forward engine room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Captain’s cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Pantry off Captain’s day cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Captain’s day cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Captain’s day cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

A view of the board detailing which junior rates are on or off ship and who is on leave. Displayed by the gangway on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The deployed Westland Lynx HMA.8 helicopter of No 815 Naval Air Squadron secured to the flight deck of Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. In front of the helicopter is a GEC Marconi Stingray air-launched, anti-submarine torpedo in a transportation trolley. To the side is a drill MBDA Sea Skua air to surface, anti-ship missile. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Cockpit of the Westland Lynx HAS.8 helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron deployed on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Cockpit of the Westland Lynx HAS.8 helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron which was deployed on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

A general view from the flight deck looking forward towards the hangar on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). The hangar is decorated / arranged for the purposes of entertaining and briefing visitors to the ship during an open day. In usual usage the hangar would house the deployed Westland Lynx HMA.8 helicopter. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Communications Control Room (low power) within the Communications Office of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close up view of a panel in the Communications Control Room (low power) within the Communications Office of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Chief Petty Officers’ and Warrant Officers’ Mess on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Chief Petty Officers’ and Warrant Officers’ Mess on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Officer’s single berth cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Messdeck 3S (three-sierra) was home to forty-two Weapons Engineering (WE) or Communications Information Systems (CIS) ratings. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The mess square for messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Messdeck 3S (three-sierra) was home to forty two Weapons Engineering (WE) or Communications Information Systems (CIS) ratings. The mess square would be used for rest, recreation and socialising. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Workstation and consoles in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). This was one of two compartments which housed the machinery for the ship’s two Type 909 fire control radar sets used in conjunction with the ship’s Sea Dart guided missile weapon system. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close up of a panel in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Transmitter in the after 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Workstation and consoles in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close up of a panel in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Inside the dome for the After 909 radar on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM

Inside the dome for the After 909 radar on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Ship’s Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. The office is where general administrative duties were carried out including arranging travel warrants, foreign currency during overseas tours, pay and all personnel issues. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The galley on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. The galley would provide three meals per day at set times for the ships company of approximately 269, served canteen messing style in the Junior Rates dining room, the Senior Rates dining room and the Wardroom. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The galley on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The galley on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), Mary 2013. The nerve centre for the ship the Operations Room contains the Captain’s position, Navigators position, the Principal Weapons Officer’s position, the weapons and radar control systems, the Tactical Firing position and the aircraft controllers station. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Sick Bay on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. At most times two medical assistants worked here. When the ship was on tour for extended periods of time, a medical officer was also present. The role of the medical staff was preventative medicine and hygiene, monitoring of the environmental conditions on board as well as providing first aid and basic remedies for minor illness. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Fleet Protection Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. This room was used by members of Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines (latterly called 43 Commando Royal Marines) when embarked on the ship during patrols for counter-piracy or anti-drug smuggling operations. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Sea Dart Quarters of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Within this room mechanical control and maintenance of the Sea Dart anti-air missile system, the ship’s principal weapon system, is managed. Fire control for the weapon is directed from the Operations Room. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Sea Dart Quarters of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of a section of the 4.5″ gunbay on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Inside the barbette of the ship’s 4.5 inch Mark 8 Mod 1 gun. Having been received from the feed ring in the gunbay, the rounds were fed via this hoist to the gun in the gunhouse above. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of a section of the 4.5″ gunbay on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The 4.5″ Gun Power Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). From this room, the ship’s 4.5 inch Mark 8 Mod 1 gun was mechanically (electrical) controlled and administered. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Bridge of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Within the bridge can be found the Quartermaster’s steering position in the left seat, the Captain’s chair on the right, the chart table for navigation along with the WECDIS or Warship Electronic Chart Display Information System, a combined map, GPS navigation and tracking radar / sonar and combat systems feed. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Bridge of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Bridge of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Pre-war & post-war frigate strength, 1939-1958

Posted on by

World navies comparative frigate strengths from 1939 to 1958.

Year USN RN Fr Ne USSR
1939 43 46

 5
1941 22
1945 482 598 35 6 48
1948 13
1950 11
1951 36 44 16
1952 89
1954 33
1955 60
1957 71 26 61
1952 18

Source: Friedman, Norman. The Postwar Naval Revolution. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1986.

Pre-war & post-war destroyer strength, 1939-1958

Posted on by

World navies comparative destroyer (DD) strengths from 1939 to 1958.

Year USN RN Fr Ne USSR
1939 127 100 57 8
1941 42
1945 372 108 15 5 45
1948 135
1950 109
1951 28 11 5
1952 211
1954 26
1955 140
1957 212 19 19
1952 12

Source: Friedman, Norman. The Postwar Naval Revolution. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1986.

New Jersey battle group, WESTPAC, 1986

Posted on by

Aerial view of the first Battleship Battle Group (BBBG) to deploy to the Western Pacific since the Korean War, taken 1 July 1986. [click photo to enlarge]

New Jersey Battleship Battle Group (BBBG), 1 July 1986. Photo credit: USN.

Ships clockwise from bottom of picture: